The Structure of Character in Modern Poetry: Al-Sayyab, Al-Bayyati, and Amal Dunqul as Models

Abstract

This study attempts to trace an essential element of modern poetic structure, namely the element of character, by examining the works of three prominent figures in modern Arabic poetry. It begins by exploring the structure of the conflict between East and West in the poetry of the Iraqi poet Badr Shakir al-Sayyab, who notably focused on employing mythological characters more than any other type. The study then moves on to highlight the manifestations of engaging with heritage both Arab and Western in the works of Abdul Wahhab al-Bayyati, a poet who utilized characters from diverse cultural backgrounds to express a wide range of experiences. Finally, the study examines selected poems by Amal Dunqul to clarify how he invested in Arab traditional characters to shape poetic worlds that powerfully conveyed the crisis and tension between the self and the other.